Well I started a new Category titled 'inspiration' and I think that is appropriate for today's entry.
My good friend Rick Blaes called me up and said its too nice outside not to fly - who am I to argue.Temps were in the high 50s with clear skies and good visibilty. Rick keeps his RV-4 next door from work at Port Columbus (KCMH) so it's nice and handy.
I took a few pics before we saddled up and then we took off or I should say 'blasted off' as Rick's airplane is fairly light and sports a fuel injected 180hp engine swinging a Hartzell constant speed prop. Rick had me flying the airplane almost the whole time and we had a blast. He'd do a loop and then I'd practice what he demonstrated. I haven't flown a high performance experimental in many years so I truely appreciate his input. He did a couple of cuban 8s, we did rolls, clover leafs, 4 g turns, it was a ball!
Then it was time from some touch-and-goes at Lancaster Municipal. Rick has a throttle quadrant and rudder pedals in the back seat so he said 'go for it.' First landing wasnt too bad with Rick talking me through it, I did get a little squirrelly with those back seat rudder pedals. Second one was much better and the last one was a bouncer - oh well it was still a blast!!!
Thanks to Rick for letting me abuse his beautiful RV-4 on such a fine day. I can't wait to go again!!!
Now let's go pound some rivets!
Rick & the RV-4 he built. It has a Blue Mountain One EFIS and a big 180hp with C/S prop- "Rocket Lite"
View from the back - this was how I was landing looking over Rick's shoulder.
